Fifth wheel



March 9 0- E. c. SHRIVER 2,193,744

FIFTH WHEEL Filed Nov. 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll-II ll VIIII'IIIII'II' I 5 I u i l ill:

Patented Mar. 12, 1940 The present invention relates to a fifthwheel construction-adapted foriuse a's'aiiercible con nection between a truck and trailer, semitrailer or other vehicle by which it is to be transported; An object of the present invention is to provide a construction adapted to actas oscillation means for the truck and trailer in'any direction.

v the numeral l A further object is to provide'a fifth wheel construction which is notliable to be accidentally separatedt A still further object of the invention.isto provide al'fifth wheel constructioninvolving the use of rollers and cushioning means. i 'f A still further object of the invention is to provide a fifth wheel construction which isso constructed as to be protected from dust, moisture,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on.

the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken'through one of the spring'retaining bearings,

Figure 4 isan exploded View clearly illustrating the method of assembling the invention,

Figure 5' is :a sectional view of the roller bearings showing means for retaining same,

ber, and I v v Figure 7 is a front-elevational view of one of the cradle bearings. Referring more particularly to the drawings, indicates the main'for chassis beams of a truck or other vehicle while 2 designates the conventionalibeam of a trailer or like vehicle. 4

Generally the invention comprises an upper shallow inverted cup shapedgmember I, a lower plate member 4, and an intermediate arrangement of rollers l4 separating members 1 and 4. Integrally secured by brackets 3 to the upper surface of member I is a pivot shaft 5 for a purpose later to be described. shown in the The lower member 4 is formed to telescope into upper member 1 and is provided with a sleeve, member 24 which projects centrally in an upward 'br 4 serves as a grease-retainer for, the device when assembled. 'Aflpivotshaft I6 is integrally anddownward direction from member 4 and this Sleeve member 24in turn fits overthe hub '23 of member: .1. The circular flat surface 8 of memformed on lower member '4 pivoting same transyerselywith relation to shaft 5 on upper mem- An intermediate arrangement of rollers 14 isprovided' for spacing members I and 4 apart and v these rollers liewith the member 1 when inassembled relation." The rollers l4 are supported: I between rings 25 and 26 by means of rods I5 extending'in a. tangential direction from ring 26 and are: suitably secured to the rings. This ar 5 Ura'ngement not only provides an equal spacing of I the rollers but also serves as a grease retainer v for the assembly.

The shaft l6 of lower member 4 is secured'to truck beams l .by means of cradle bearings more particularly shown in Figure.7.

These cradles are secure'dto each beam i in any suitable manner and comprise a T stand l9 carrying at its upper end swinging shackles l8 suitably secured by means of 'a bolt 20. An open- 2 ing I! at'the lower portions of shackles l8 is provided for insertion of shaft l6.f It is understood that these cradles are'inv duplicate for each end of the shaft I6 and, for this reason, a description of only onehas been given. v 30 e Figure 6 is a sectional-view of the. upper mem- The shaft 5 of upper member 1 is secured to the trailer beam 2 by means of duplicate bearings 2| having springs 22 therein for cushioningthe shaft=5. A member 6 through which the shaft 5 passes is secured to beam 2 in any suitable man ner.

,In-assembling the device, it is to be noted that 3 upper member I is shallow for the reception of the intermediate member and the lower member 4. The lower member 4 having flat upper surfacev 8 is provided, with the sleeve. 24 over which the'roller carrying ring 26 is fitted. The sleeve 24in turn is fitted over'hub 23 of upper member 1 and this permits the fiat member 8 to lie within the shallow member.- This not only allows grease to be retained between members 1 and 4 but also encloses the structure from rain, moisture or other weather-- hazards.

To secure the above organization against accidental displacement, a washer 9 is applied to hub part II and bears against sleeve 24. A wedge .key I0 is then drivenin opening I2 of hub ll, thus binding all of the members together. To

further guard againstaccidental displacement,

a cross pin l3 may be driven within the hub and wedge key. The separation or unhitching of the truck from the trailer is very expeditiously accomplished by driving out the wedge Ill and lifting one member from the other.

In use of the device when attached as previously described, it will be noted that bearings 22 containing springs 2| house the ends of upper shaft 5. In resting against springs 2i the shaft ends are cushioned from thrusts of the trailer on hills and particularly onthe down grades. The shackles i8. swinging in an arc within the prescribed limits of T-stand 19 house the ends of lower shaft Hi. This arrangement balances the pull in proportion to the load and checks the jar or" sudden starting or stopping of thetruck where transportation of fragile articles or fruit might be damaged. r

The use of rollers in a connection ofpthis charused or any other material suited for this purpose.

While the term rollers has been used throughout the specification, it is understood that any other type of bearing, such as ball bearings, may be used to provide the frictionless separation of the upper and lower members.

It is further understood that while a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the claim appended hereto. T

What I claim is:

In a fifth wheel construction, including interfitting .upper and lower sections and anti-friction bearings mounted between said sections, means for attaching said upper section to a vehicle, comprising a shaft integral with said section and extending longitudinally of said vehicle, bearings carried by said vehicle and receiving the ends of CLIlN'E SHRIVER. N 

